Shocker: T.G.I. Friday’s Lands in Union Square

The Riese Organization has announced that it has taken over the long vacant Zen Palate space at 34 Union Square East, and “tentative plans” call for a Tim Horton’s and — the scary part — a T.G.I. Friday’s. Tentative though those plans may be, it sounds likely that Riese will add another T.G.I. Friday’s to those it already operates at Broadway and 46th Street and at 604 Fifth Avenue, at 48th Street. “We are pleased to be a part of the exciting resurgence of Union Square and to introduce T.G.I. Friday’s and Tim’s to this great neighborhood,” Dennis Riese says in the press release. Let’s hope “resurgence” doesn’t end up meaning the coming of Pret A Manger, T.G.I. Friday’s, and other chains. Send rhubarb reinforcements, Greenmarket — this is going to get ugly.